Here you’ll find 56 Animals that start with R that begin with R, organized from “American Robin” to “Russian Tortoise”. These entries cover mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and invertebrates useful for quick reference, classroom use, or nature study.
Animals that start with R are common-name groupings of species whose usual English names begin with R. Many, like the “American Robin”, carry cultural or seasonal meaning in local traditions.
Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Habitat, Range, Description, Conservation status, and Details link.
Common name: The widely used English name for the species, helping you quickly identify animals by familiar labels.
Scientific name: The accepted Latin binomial gives precise identification so you can cross-reference species across books and databases.
Habitat: Concise biome and typical environment information showing where the species lives and which ecosystems it relies on.
Range: Geographic regions or countries where the species occurs, useful when you need local or global context.
Description: A concise one- to two-sentence summary of notable traits, behavior, or diet, helping you understand each species quickly.
Conservation status: IUCN category or other status tags indicating extinction risk, so you can prioritize study or conservation attention.
Details link: Internal or external link to species pages where you find images, deeper facts, and CSV exports for research.
Animals that start with R
| Common name | Scientific name | IUCN status | Habitat & region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon | Procyon lotor | Least Concern | Woodlands, suburban areas — North America |
| Red Panda | Ailurus fulgens | Endangered | Temperate forests — Eastern Himalayas and southwestern China |
| Reindeer | Rangifer tarandus | Vulnerable | Tundra, boreal forests — Arctic and Subarctic regions |
| Red Fox | Vulpes vulpes | Least Concern | Forests, grasslands, urban areas — Northern Hemisphere |
| Ring-tailed Lemur | Lemur catta | Endangered | Gallery forests, spiny thickets — Southern Madagascar |
| Rock Hyrax | Procavia capensis | Least Concern | Rocky outcrops, grasslands — Africa, Middle East |
| Roan Antelope | Hippotragus equinus | Least Concern | Woodlands, grasslands — Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Roe Deer | Capreolus capreolus | Least Concern | Woodlands, farmland — Europe and Asia |
| Red Kangaroo | Osphranter rufus | Least Concern | Deserts, grasslands — Australia |
| Red Squirrel | Sciurus vulgaris | Least Concern | Coniferous, broadleaf forests — Eurasia |
| Rhesus Macaque | Macaca mulatta | Least Concern | Forests, grasslands, urban areas — South and Southeast Asia |
| Right Whale | Eubalaena spp. | Endangered | Temperate and sub-polar oceans — Worldwide |
| River Otter | Lontra canadensis | Least Concern | Rivers, lakes, coastlines — North America |
| Ratel | Mellivora capensis | Least Concern | Savannas, grasslands, forests — Africa, Southwest Asia |
| Riverine Rabbit | Bunolagus monticularis | Critically Endangered | Riverine shrublands — Karoo region of South Africa |
| Rock Wallaby | Petrogale spp. | Varies by species | Rocky terrain, cliffs — Australia |
| Rothschild’s Giraffe | Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi | Near Threatened | Savannas, woodlands — East Africa (Kenya, Uganda) |
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius | Least Concern | Woodlands, parks, suburban lawns — North America |
| Greater Roadrunner | Geococcyx californianus | Least Concern | Deserts, scrublands — Southwestern United States, Mexico |
| Common Raven | Corvus corax | Least Concern | Varied habitats — Northern Hemisphere |
| Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | Least Concern | Open country, woodlands — North and Central America |
| Rose-ringed Parakeet | Psittacula krameri | Least Concern | Woodlands, urban parks — Africa, Indian Subcontinent |
| Red-crowned Crane | Grus japonensis | Vulnerable | Marshes, rivers — East Asia |
| Rockhopper Penguin | Eudyptes chrysocome | Vulnerable | Rocky shorelines — Subantarctic islands |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | Least Concern | Forests, gardens — Eastern North America, Central America |
| Greater Rhea | Rhea americana | Near Threatened | Grasslands, pampas — South America |
| Razorbill | Alca torda | Least Concern | Coastal cliffs, open sea — North Atlantic |
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | Least Concern | Wetlands, marshes — North and Central America |
| Rock Dove | Columba livia | Least Concern | Cliffs, urban environments — Worldwide |
| Roseate Spoonbill | Platalea ajaja | Least Concern | Coastal marshes, mangroves — The Americas |
| Red Kite | Milvus milvus | Least Concern | Woodlands, farmland — Europe and northwestern Africa |
| Red-billed Quelea | Quelea quelea | Least Concern | Savanna, scrubland — Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Reticulated Python | Malayopython reticulatus | Least Concern | Rainforests, woodlands — Southeast Asia |
| Rhinoceros Viper | Bitis nasicornis | Least Concern | Forest floors — West and Central Africa |
| Ring-necked Snake | Diadophis punctatus | Least Concern | Forests, grasslands — North America |
| Rough Green Snake | Opheodrys aestivus | Least Concern | Woodlands near water — Southeastern United States, Mexico |
| Russian Tortoise | Testudo horsfieldii | Vulnerable | Dry steppes, sandy areas — Central Asia |
| Red-eared Slider | Trachemys scripta elegans | Least Concern | Freshwater ponds, slow rivers — Southern United States |
| Radiated Tortoise | Astrochelys radiata | Critically Endangered | Spiny forests, woodlands — Southern Madagascar |
| Rhinoceros Iguana | Cyclura cornuta | Vulnerable | Dry, rocky habitats — Hispaniola (Caribbean) |
| Red-eyed Tree Frog | Agalychnis callidryas | Least Concern | Tropical rainforests — Central America |
| Red Salamander | Pseudotriton ruber | Least Concern | Cool streams, temperate forests — Eastern United States |
| Rainbow Trout | Oncorhynchus mykiss | Least Concern | Coldwater streams, rivers — Pacific Ocean tributaries |
| Red-bellied Piranha | Pygocentrus nattereri | Not Evaluated | Freshwater rivers — Amazon Basin, South America |
| Red Lionfish | Pterois volitans | Least Concern | Coral reefs — Indo-Pacific Ocean |
| Remora | Echeneis naucrates | Least Concern | Tropical and warm temperate oceans — Worldwide |
| Rockfish | Sebastes spp. | Varies by species | Coastal waters, rocky bottoms — Pacific Ocean |
| Rainbow Shark | Epalzeorhynchos frenatum | Least Concern | Rivers, streams — Southeast Asia (Indochina) |
| Rhinoceros Beetle | Dynastinae subfamily | Not Evaluated | Forests, decaying wood — Worldwide |
| Robber Fly | Asilidae family | Not Evaluated | Varied habitats — Worldwide |
| Red Admiral | Vanessa atalanta | Least Concern | Woodlands, gardens, parks — Europe, Asia, North America |
| Redback Spider | Latrodectus hasselti | Least Concern | Urban areas, dry habitats — Australia |
| Rock Lobster | Jasus edwardsii | Least Concern | Coastal rocky reefs — Australia, New Zealand |
| Rosy Maple Moth | Dryocampa rubicunda | Least Concern | Temperate hardwood forests — North America |
| Rotifer | Rotifera phylum | Not Evaluated | Freshwater environments — Worldwide |
| Rose Chafer | Cetonia aurata | Not Evaluated | Meadows, gardens — Europe and Asia |
Descriptions
Raccoon
A nocturnal mammal known for its masked face and ringed tail. Highly adaptable and intelligent, it often forages for food in urban environments.
Red Panda
A small, arboreal mammal with reddish-brown fur and a long, shaggy tail. It primarily eats bamboo and is a solitary, mostly nocturnal creature.
Reindeer
Also known as caribou, it is the only deer species where both sexes grow antlers. They are famous for their long-distance seasonal migrations.
Red Fox
A highly adaptable omnivore known for its cunning and reddish-orange fur. It is the largest of the true foxes and has a vast geographic range.
Ring-tailed Lemur
A primate known for its long, black-and-white ringed tail. They are highly social and spend more time on the ground than other lemur species.
Rock Hyrax
A small, terrestrial mammal surprisingly related to elephants. They live in large colonies and use complex vocalizations to communicate with each other.
Roan Antelope
A large antelope with a distinctive black-and-white facial mask. They are known for their formidable horns and aggressive nature when threatened.
Roe Deer
A small, graceful deer with short antlers. They are typically solitary or live in small groups and are most active at dawn and dusk.
Red Kangaroo
The largest of all kangaroos, known for the male’s reddish coat. They can leap over 9 meters (30 feet) in a single bound.
Red Squirrel
A tree-dwelling rodent with characteristic ear tufts and a bushy tail. Its population has declined in some areas due to competition with grey squirrels.
Rhesus Macaque
A well-known monkey species often used in medical and scientific research. They are highly intelligent and live in large, complex social groups.
Right Whale
A group of large baleen whales named because they were the “right” whales to hunt. They are slow-moving and feed near the surface.
River Otter
A semi-aquatic mammal in the weasel family known for its playful behavior. They have streamlined bodies and webbed feet, making them excellent swimmers.
Ratel
Also known as the honey badger, this ferocious mammal is famous for its thick skin, powerful claws, and fearless, tenacious personality.
Riverine Rabbit
One of the world’s rarest mammals, this nocturnal rabbit is restricted to a very specific and threatened habitat. Its survival is critically linked to riverbed vegetation.
Rock Wallaby
A genus of wallabies specialized for rugged, rocky environments. Their padded feet provide excellent grip for climbing steep cliffs and rock faces.
Rothschild’s Giraffe
One of the most endangered giraffe subspecies, distinguished by its unique coat pattern. Conservation efforts are underway to protect its dwindling population.
American Robin
A familiar songbird with a reddish-orange breast. It is often considered a harbinger of spring and feeds primarily on earthworms and insects.
Greater Roadrunner
A fast-running ground bird that can exceed speeds of 32 km/h (20 mph). It is an opportunistic omnivore, preying on insects, lizards, and even rattlesnakes.
Common Raven
A large, all-black bird known for its intelligence and complex problem-solving abilities. It has a deep, croaking call and is a highly adaptable omnivore.
Red-tailed Hawk
One of North America’s most common birds of prey, easily identified by its broad wings and reddish-brown tail. It soars over open fields hunting for small mammals.
Rose-ringed Parakeet
A medium-sized parrot with a distinctive red and black neck ring on males. Originally from Africa and Asia, it has established feral populations worldwide.
Red-crowned Crane
One of the rarest cranes in the world, revered in many cultures as a symbol of luck and longevity. It is known for its graceful courtship dances.
Rockhopper Penguin
A small, crested penguin known for its feisty personality and ability to hop over boulders. It has distinctive yellow crest feathers above its red eyes.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
A tiny, migratory bird with iridescent green plumage and a brilliant red throat in males. It can beat its wings over 50 times per second.
Greater Rhea
The largest bird in the Americas, this flightless species resembles a small ostrich. Males are responsible for incubating eggs and raising the young.
Razorbill
A colonial seabird with a thick, blunt, black bill resembling a razor. It is an excellent swimmer, using its wings to “fly” underwater to catch fish.
Red-winged Blackbird
A common North American bird where males are glossy black with striking red-and-yellow shoulder patches, which they flash to defend their territory.
Rock Dove
The common city pigeon, originally a cliff-dwelling bird. It has been domesticated for thousands of years and has established feral populations globally.
Roseate Spoonbill
A wading bird with a unique, flat, spoon-shaped bill used to sift through mud for food. Its pink plumage comes from pigments in the crustaceans it eats.
Red Kite
A medium-large bird of prey with a distinctive forked tail and reddish-brown plumage. It was once endangered in the UK but has made a remarkable recovery.
Red-billed Quelea
Considered the world’s most abundant wild bird species, with a population estimated at 1.5 billion. They form massive, destructive flocks.
Reticulated Python
One of the world’s longest snakes, regularly exceeding 6 meters (20 feet). It is an ambush predator known for its intricate, geometric skin pattern.
Rhinoceros Viper
A venomous viper named for the prominent “horns” on its snout. It has a thick body and a striking color pattern that provides excellent camouflage.
Ring-necked Snake
A small, secretive snake recognized by the distinct yellow or orange ring around its neck. When threatened, it flashes its brightly colored underside.
Rough Green Snake
A slender, docile, bright green snake that is an excellent climber. It spends most of its time in vegetation hunting for insects and spiders.
Russian Tortoise
A small, popular pet tortoise also known as the Horsefield’s tortoise. It hibernates or aestivates for long periods to survive harsh temperatures.
Red-eared Slider
A popular pet turtle, identifiable by the red stripe behind its eye. It has become an invasive species in many parts of the world.
Radiated Tortoise
A large tortoise with a beautifully patterned, high-domed shell. It is one of the most endangered tortoises due to habitat loss and illegal trade.
Rhinoceros Iguana
A large, heavy-bodied lizard named for the bony, horn-like protuberances on its snout. It is primarily herbivorous, feeding on leaves, flowers, and fruits.
Red-eyed Tree Frog
A vibrant amphibian with bright red eyes used to startle predators. It is nocturnal, sleeping on the underside of leaves during the day.
Red Salamander
A brightly colored lungless salamander that breathes through its skin. Its red color serves as a warning, mimicking the more toxic newt species.
Rainbow Trout
A popular game fish known for its vibrant colors and pinkish lateral stripe. It has been introduced worldwide for sport fishing and aquaculture.
Red-bellied Piranha
A freshwater fish with a notorious reputation, though its ferocity is often exaggerated. It has powerful jaws and razor-sharp, interlocking teeth.
Red Lionfish
A venomous but beautiful marine fish with dramatic, fan-like pectoral fins and venomous spines. It has become a major invasive species in the Atlantic.
Remora
A fish with a modified dorsal fin that acts as a suction cup, allowing it to attach to larger marine animals like sharks, turtles, and whales for transport and food.
Rockfish
A diverse genus of over 100 fish species known for being extremely long-lived. Some species can live for more than 200 years.
Rainbow Shark
A popular aquarium fish, not a true shark, known for its vibrant red fins and dark body. It is a territorial bottom-dweller.
Rhinoceros Beetle
A group of large beetles where males possess a large horn used for fighting rivals. Despite their size, they are harmless to humans.
Robber Fly
A family of powerful, predatory flies known for their bristly bodies and stout beaks. They ambush other insects in mid-air, injecting them with paralyzing saliva.
Red Admiral
A migratory butterfly with velvety black wings, crossed by striking red bands and white spots. It is a common and recognizable garden visitor.
Redback Spider
A highly venomous spider, related to the black widow, known for the prominent red stripe on the female’s abdomen. Males are much smaller and harmless.
Rock Lobster
Also known as the spiny lobster, it lacks the large claws of true lobsters. It is a highly valued species in commercial and recreational fisheries.
Rosy Maple Moth
A small silk moth known for its vibrant pink and yellow coloration. Its woolly appearance makes it a striking, if rarely seen, forest insect.
Rotifer
A phylum of microscopic aquatic animals. They are named for the crown of cilia around their mouths that resembles a spinning wheel, used for feeding and locomotion.
Rose Chafer
A metallic green beetle that feeds on pollen, nectar, and flowers, especially roses. Its larvae develop in decaying organic matter like compost heaps.
